ave it to me southwest by south," answered the man.

"Don't talk back to me!" roared Jack Lesher. "I know the course as
well as the captain. Make it south by west, or I'll flog you for
disobeying orders."

"Aye, aye, sir," answered the man at the wheel, and the course was
changed, for the sailor stood greatly in fear of the mate. Then the
mate sent below for another drink of rum.

CHAPTER XII

ANOTHER ACCIDENT AT SEA

It was four hours later, and Captain Blossom was just preparing to
come on deck, when there, came a fearful shock which threw the Golden
Wave back and over on her side.

"We have struck! We are on the rocks!" came a shrill cry from the
deck, and immediately there was an uproar.

The Rover boys were thrown to the floor from their berths, and it
was several seconds before they could realize what had happened.

"We have struck something, that is sure!" gasped Sam.

As quickly as they could they donned their clothing and made their
way to the large state-room occupied by the girls.

"Oh, what a shock!" came from Nellie.

"Are you safe?" asked Tom.

"I am, but poor Grace struck her head on the wall, and is unconscious."

Without ceremony Tom picked up the unconscious girl, wrapped her in
a blanket, and, aided by Sam, carried her to the deck, the others
following. A minute later Grace revived.

On deck they found all in confusion. The bowsprit of the _Golden Wave_
was gone, and also the main topmast, while a mass of the rigging
littered the forecastle. It was also announced that the rudder was
broken and the vessel was pounding helplessly on the rocks, with a
big hole in the bow directly below the waterline.

"Who changed the course?" demanded Captain Blossom. "We should be
fifty miles away from these rocks."

"The first mate made me change the course," said the man who had been
at the wheel. "I told him you had said southwest by south, and he
made it south by west."

"He don't know what he's talking about!" howled Jack Lesher. The
shock had partly sobered him. "He was steering due south, and I told
him to make it southwest by south."

But little more could be said on the point, for it was feared that
the schooner would go down at any moment.

"We must man the boats," said the captain. "Bring up the provisions
and the kegs of water, and be quick about it."

"Are we near land?" asked Dick.

"There should be some islands four or five miles south of this spot,"
answered Captain B